Mirror KB Articles
about horses & horse care

by Kim and Kari Baker

Mirror KB Equine Article Series

A Stable BeginningRaising
a Foal in a Boarding Stable EnvironmentPart 1by Kim and Kari Baker

One
of the thrills as a mare owner is raising a foal, but for the want of
acreage, many have not acted upon this dream. It's true that the
majority of foals are born on breeding farms or ranches, or are
homegrown on small private properties. But, what if you must entrust your mare to the care of a boarding
stable? The comfort and safety, as well as the foal's early
informative foundation will be in the hands of the caretaker you choose
to board with. Is it
possible to raise a healthy, mentally sound foal in a boarding stable
environment?

I board horses and have my own and other people's foals to
raise up. It can be done, and fun too," says Heather Pelletier of
Pioneer Peak Quarter Horse Ranch in Palmer, Alaska.

Health
and Hygiene

With the constant movement back and forth to shows and events and
the turnover of horses common at a public boarding facility, the grounds
are prime for the transfer of viral, bacterial and parasitic infection.
The newborn is very susceptible to infection so hygiene is of the utmost
importance.

Ideally, the mare has resided on the property where she is to foal for
at least two months so that she was able to settle in, as well as build
antibodies against organisms that flourish in her new
"neighborhood". If the stable normally uses shavings or
sawdust for bedding, you will want to contract with the management to
provide clean straw bedding during the last month of pregnancy and for
at least an additional two weeks post foaling. The stall should also be spacious and free of any protrusions
that may injure the foal while he tests out his ungainly legs.

If the mare is moving into new foaling accommodations, the stall should
be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected before she is introduced to her
new room.

Consult with your veterinarian on vaccination recommendations the mare
should receive for your particular location. "Be sure to keep your
vaccinations up to date," says Pelletier. "Especially if there
is a lot of in and out or show people at the facility." Immunizations should be given before the last six weeks of
pregnancy so that the mare will provide some protection to the foal
through the colostrum. In addition, the mare should be dewormed within
the last six weeks of gestation and again after foaling. A routine
vaccination and deworming program should be worked out for the foal as
well.

The
Accommodations

The ideal location of the birthing ground is an environment that will
allow for close supervision yet away from heavy stable traffic. Many
stables can provide a 24-hour foal watch, which is a blessing for those
who have to work or just can't spend day and night at the stable waiting
for the foal's arrival.

As the due date nears, many mares become nervous or agitated if there is
too much activity or the area has become a gathering place for other
boarders in hopes of witnessing the blessed event. If possible, it would
be a good idea to limit access to the area to just yourself, the
caretakers and other qualified individuals you deem vital to a happy
outcome.

Following foaling, the mare will need time to bond with her foal and
adjust to her duties, and so long as the mare shows any signs of
anxiety, curious "well-wishers" should not be allowed access
to the stall.

Improper handling of the foal by inexperienced barn help or
"friends" who just want to play with the foal can also become
a real problem if guidelines are not in place from day one. For that reason, limiting the handling of the foal to experienced
individuals will prevent the tendency of the foal to pick up bad habits.